The Ehlers-Danlos syndrome is an uncommon familial disorder of connective tissue. The joints are hypermobile and the skin unduly extensible (Fig. 1). The skin tends to split with slight injury leaving wide thin scars on bony prominences (Fig. 2). There is often a bleeding diathesis of variable severity, with ocular, cardiovascular and gastro-intestinal concomitants. Other common stigmata are fleshy swellings known as molluscoid pseudo-tumours, usually in the scarred areas, and calcified spheroids, which may be palpated in the subcutaneous tissues of the forearms and shins (Fig. 3). FIGs. I AND 2 Figure I-The hyperextensible skin in the Ehlers-Danlos syndrome. Figure 2-Scarring of the knees, shins and face and the thoracic deformity are shown. During an investigation in southern England 100 affected patients were examined: many had diverse orthopaedic features, and the purpose of this paper is to describe and to discuss them on a basis of previous reports. The 100 patients were fully examined, and haematological, biochemical, histological and radiological investigations were done on many of them. Joint hypermobility was assessed by a modification of the method described by Carter and Wilkinson (1964). The patients were given a score of 0 to 5, one point being scored for the ability to perform each of the following tests: I) passive dorsiflexion of the little finger beyond 90 degrees with the forearm flat on a